NCERT Class 8 History Book Summary | Our Pasts 3 Overview

The NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) Class 8 History book in India covers a wide range of topics, including the history of India from ancient times to the modern era. Here is a brief summary of the chapters covered in the NCERT Class 8 History book:

Chapter 1: How, When, and Where

This chapter provides an introduction to the study of history and discusses the importance of understanding historical events. It covers topics such as the sources of history, the concept of time, and the significance of chronology.

Brahmans offering the Shastra to Brittania, frontpiece to the first map produced by James Rennel, 1782

Chapter 2: From Trade to Territory: The Company Establishes Power

This chapter focuses on the arrival of the East India Company in India and its gradual establishment of power. It discusses the Company's trade activities, the Battle of Plassey, and the establishment of British political control.

Bahadur Shah Zafar and his Sons being arrested by Captain Hudson 

Chapter 3: Ruling the Countryside

In this chapter, the focus is on the agrarian society in India during the British colonial period. It explores the various revenue systems like Mahalwari System (North India), Ryotwari System (South India) introduced by the British, the impact of these systems on peasants, and the resistance movements by the farmers.

Robert Clive accepting the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa from the Mughal ruler in 1765

Chapter 4: Tribals, Dikus, and the Vision of a Golden Age

This chapter highlights the lives and experiences of tribal communities in India. It discusses the changes brought by British rule, the exploitation faced by tribals, and the movements led by tribal leaders such as Birsa Munda.

• Kols rebelled in 1831-32
• Santhals rose in revolt in 1855
• Bastar Rebellion in central India broke out in 1910
• Warli revolt in Maharashtra in 1940

Coal miners of Bihar, 1948

In 1920s about 50 percent of the miners in the Jharia and Raniganj coal mines of bihar were tribals.

Chapter 5: When People Rebel: 1857 and After

Here, the chapter delves into the events of the Indian Rebellion of 1857, also known as the First War of Independence. It covers the causes of the rebellion, key leaders, and the consequences of the uprising.

Sepoys and Peasants gather forces fir the revolt that spread across the plains of north india in 1857

Chapter 6: Weavers, Iron Smelters, and Factory Owners

In this chapter, the book discusses the changes in the textile and iron industries during the colonial era. It covers topics such as the decline of the handloom industry, the growth of factory-based production, and the impact of these changes on various social groups.

Chapter 7: Civilising the "Native", Educating the Nation

The chapter explores the spread of education in India during the colonial period. It discusses the policies of the British government, the role of missionaries, the growth of Western education, and the emergence of Indian leaders like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Rabindra Nath Tagore, Sri Aurobindo Ghose.

Mahatma Gandhi along with Kasturba Gandhi sitting with Rabindranath Tagore and a group of girls at Santiniketan, 1940

Chapter 8: Women, Caste, and Reform

Here, the focus is on the social reform movements in India during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It discusses the efforts made to address issues like women's rights, caste discrimination, and the emergence of social reformers like ishwarchandra vidyasagar, Jyotirao Phule, Pandita Ramabai,

Etc. Some of the Movements are given below with their Leading Leaders

         MOVEMENTS.                LEADERS 

• Satnami Movements       Ghasidas
• Brahmo samaj                 Ram Mohan Roy
• Satyashodhak Samaj     Jyotirao Phule
• Arya Samaj                     Dayanand Saraswati 

Students of Hindu Mahila Vidyalaya, 1875

When girl's schools were first set up in the nineteenth century, it was generally believed that the curriculum for girls ought to be less taxing than that for boys. The Hindu Mahila Vidyalaya was one of the first institutions to provide girls with the kind of learning that was usual boys at the time.

Chapter 9: The Making of the National Movement: 1870s-1947

This chapter focuses on the Indian national movement against British rule. It covers key events, organizations, and leaders, including the formation of the Indian National Congress, the partition of Bengal, Mahatma Gandhi's role, and India's struggle for independence.

Thousands joined the demonstrations during the swadeshi movement

Chapter 10 : India after Independence 

This chapter describes the scenario after India gained independence from British rule on August 15, 1947. The country was partitioned into India and Pakistan, leading to widespread communal violence and mass migrations.

The Constituent Assembly was responsible for drafting the Indian Constitution, which was adopted on January 26, 1950. It established India as a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic.

Less than six months after independence the nation was in mourning. On 30 January 1948, Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated by a fanatic, Nathuram Godse.

Mahatma Gandhi's ashes being immersed in Allahabad, February 1948

These summaries provide a general overview of the topics covered in each chapter of the NCERT Class 8 History book.